Automatic magnetic tack hammer



Aug; 5,` 1952 H. G. ANDERS-ON 2,605,466

AUTOMATIC MAGNETLC TACK HAMMER Filed'Feb. 2o, 195o 2 SHEETS-SHEET i Srwentor Gttomegs Aug. 5, 1952 H. G. ANDERSON AUTOMATIC MAGNETIC TACK HAMMER 2 sHEETs-SHEET 2 TIE- E n 1 E., I F

Filed Feb. 20, 1950 :Er-'15.. E

'wila/H410.

HAR/2 51,61 aQ/L/osEso/v lhmentor Cttornegs Patented Aug. 5, 1952 UNITED s'rmesv rareN-rorrlce AUTOMATIC MAGNETIC TACK HAMMER Harry G. Anderson, Alameda, Calif.

Application February 20, 1950, Serial No. 145,271

lV Claims.

1 This invention relates to tack hammers and more particularly to anV automatic tack hammer of' the magnetic type.

i `Among the objectsof the invention are thefollowing: To provide a tack hammer embodying a gravity' type feed means' adapted to transfer tacks o'r' small nails one by one from a suitable storage chamber to a location adjacent'the face ofthe head of the hammer, and magnetic means residing. within thehammer head, adapted by magnetic attraction alone to swing the gravityu rged tack out ofY its-path of movement and' into niied relation on the face of the hammer head, inY which position the tack may be driven into a suitable object; to provide a tack hammer of thev aforesaid type in which the tacks are transferred one by one from the storage chamber to the' magnetized face of the hammer head'so'lely by thel natural'f'orces of gravitation and magnetism; to provide a tack hammer head embodying yal magnet so arranged within the head as .to allow tacks to gravitate freely down a suitable guide' channel at the side of the head until the tacks approach the-hammering surface or face vofthe head, at which point said magnet is effective to retain thel head of the tack against the hammering surface land prevent further gravitational movement of said tack; and to provide aneinciently `operable and comparatively simple'tack hammer o'f theV magnetic type. n

-In summary, the tack hammer of the invention comprises a hammer head, a handle having a suitable storage chamber for tacks, guide means in" the form of a tack-head channel extending from' a tack outlet passage for the storage chamber along the side of the hammer head and terminating *iny a curved tack delivery portion at the hammering surface of the hammer head, feedcontrol means in association with the `guide channel-'andadapted to admit the tacks'V one by one to-tlie end or curved portion of the guide channel, and a magnet Within the hammer head ftionfznaybe-utilized to actuate the tack feed'control mechanism to feed the'tacks one by one to FigureS is a-view takenalong lines, 3-'3 oi' the hammering surface, each yielding movement of the"magnetbearing portion being effective to' feed a'v single tackA toY said surface. Alternately, the hammer yheadmay be soconstructed as tov embody no relatively movable parts, and aV-manually operable feed control vsystem maybe utilized to feed the tacks one by one to the hammering surface ofthe head. Suitable lever control meansA may be embodied in the movable head modication of the hammer to prevent movement of theV head portion, thereby preventing further sequential tack feed and enabling the use ofthe magnetized hammer head endv to fully drive a tack Within the object in which it has beeninitially positioned.

Other objects and advantages ofV the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawingsl forming part of this specification, and in which: c Y

Figure l is a view in side elevationl of a tack hammer embodying the invention, with portions of the handle and headbeing shown in section;

vFig-ure 2 is a partial View in bottom elevation of the hammer;

Figure l; y Y

Figure 4 is4 apartial Viewof the hammer head corresponding to the showing of the hammer offthe hammer'of Figure 7; Y

Figure 9 is a viewinsection taken along linesA 9 9 of Figure 7: and

Figure l0 is a detailed viewl taken along vlines lll-v-,Ill of Figure 7. V ,y

Referring to the drawingsl for'furtherdetails of the invention, the tack hammer, shown in Figures- 1-6, comprisesa hollow handle Ii) having anenlarged portion vl2 defining a-relatively large tack storageA chamber |4, saidhandle being prog vided at its lower end with a 'cap I6 adapted to be removedin-,order to charge. the handle with tacks, and said handle is secured at its other end, as by screws I8, Ato a plug A2 0*, shown as -being integral with the hammer head 22. The plugZi) is provided With anextension portion 24 having 3 a flat surface 26 constituting a storage shelf for tacks within the chamber I4, and said portion 24 is provided with a rounded longitudinally arranged chamber 28, the lower side of which is in open communication with a slot 30 in the outer side of the extension portion 24. The plug 20 is also provided with a forwardly extending portion 32 having a curved extension 34 of the sot 36..

The hammer head 22 is comprised of a fixedl portion 42 integral with the core 20 and a movable portion 44 terminating in the hammering surface 46. The portion 44 of the hammer head isV threadably engaged at 48 with the reduced diametral portion 5E! of 1a cylindrical connector member 52 residing within the largest diametral bore 54 of hammer head portion 42, said member `52 being provided with reduced diametral portions 56 and 58 fitting within, respectively, reduced diametral bore portions 60 and 62 of the head portion 42. A spring 64 within bore portion 66 and in engagement with the reduced dametral extension 56 of member 52 serves to urge the movable portion of the hammer head outwardly with respect to the fixed portion 42. A pair of screws 66 extending through slots 66 in head portion 42 and into threaded engagement with the member 52 serve, in conjunction with theV lower ends of the slots` 66, to prevent *movement of the head portion 44 outwardly beyond the position shown in Figure 1.

In the head portion of the tack hammer, the guide means for tack feed comprise the slot 'I6 in head portion 42, which slot is in alignment with slot 34, with the mouth portion 12 of said slot having a 'width Vcorresponding to the space between the strip plates 36. The movable head portion 44 of the hammer is provided with a slot 14, the mouth of which is restricted by cover plates i6 Ysecured to the headportion 44 by screws 18. The slot 'I4 is provided with a curved terminus 80 merging into the hammering sur- 4 |02 serving as guideways for the screws 66 as the hammer head portion 44 is moved relative to the head portion 42.

The head portion 44 and the connector member 52 are provided with aligned bores which together constitute a chamber |04 for a cylindrical magnet |66, preferably of Alnico. The offset relation of the magnet with respect to the median line of head portion 44 and connector member 52, as clearly shown in Figure 5, serves to inhibit the magnetizing of the guide channel region of the hammer head portions 42 and 44, thus allowing free gravitational movement of the tacks along this guide channel in a manner to be hereinafter more clearly described.

The operation of the magnetic tack hammer is as follows. As a result of manipulation of the hammer manually by the conventional arm movements, it will be understood that tacks will be fed off of the shelf 26 to collect in the region of the mouth of channel '28. The tacks will gravitate into the channel 28 and become so oriented that the stems thereof will pass through the slot 40 in the handle, with the head portions of the tacks residing within slot 30. After becoming so oriented, the tacks will move in succession along the slot 34 until the first one comes in contact with the finger 94 of trigger plate 86,

as shown in Figure 3, and when this occurs there will generallyl be an unbroken line of tacks in head-to-head relation from the lowermost one designated as |24 in Figures 3 and 4, in contact with finger 94 up to the region of channel 28. When the operator desires to insert a tack in an appropriate object, he strikes the hammering surface 46 against the object to force the movable head portion of the hammer inwardly against the action of spring 64, and this inward movement of the movable head portioncauses the screws 66 to be moved upwardly to cam trigger. plate 86 outwardly and plate 88 inwardly, thereby freeing the tack that was in engagement with finger 94 and allowing it to move along the v guide channel 'I0 into engagement with finger face 44. When the movable head portion 44 is in function of preventing any relative rotational movement between the head portion 44 and the connector member 52 threadably engagedth'erewith. f I L.

The Iguide or feed channel 'comprising aligned slots 34, 10 and 'I4 is provided with aI trigger type feed control mechanism adapted to admit the tacks one by one to the lower portion of said channel. This feed mechanism is comprised of a pair of plates 8 6 and 88 seated in channels providedin hammer head portion 42. The plates 86 and 88 are provided, respectively, with cam slots 9U and 92 through which the screws 66 extend, and they are further provided, respectively, with fingers 94 and 96 integraltherewith. Plates 98,v secured to the hammer head portion 42 by screws |60, are provided with open ended slots 66 (Fig. 4). l As the hammer` stroke is completed and the hammer is moved. away fromV the surface of the object, the movable head portion vof the hammer is urged outwardly. bythe action of spring 84 to its normal position, thereby causing trigger plates 86 and 88 to be moved into the position shown in Figure 3. The movement of plate `86 into this position arrests the next tack in the feed row, and the movement of plate 88 intov this position frees the tack that was in engagement with nger '96 so that said vtack gravitates` downwardly through guide channel I4 and the cur-ved end thereof. As thentack reaches Vthe end of the curved-portion ofthe guide channel its gravitational movement is over-` come by the magnet |66, with the result that the tack comes to rest with its head portion. in alignment with'the magnet. A, subsequent blow of the hammer will position the tack in the object, and at the end lof this second hammer blow the return of the movable head portion of the hammer to its normal position will result in the feed of another tack to the hammering surface 46. After the first or tack feed conditioning blowl of the hammer, it will be understood that each succeeding hammer blow will serve'to position a tack in the object to which it is to be afixed and to replace said tack with another one on the hammering surfacev46. The hammer may thenV be turned around tov utilize the end of head portion 42 as the driving mem` feectgeee ber-tc complete the driving ofthe'tacks'which were "aixedly positioned in?v the objectl have :also provided' means whereby the surface 46 -may'be utilized as the drivingor anvil surface'to accomplish the complet'edriving of the tacks within the object, which means lare operatively* effective to prevent `the vfeedir'igl of tacks-tc the surface 4E when the same is'being utilized for this tack driving purpose.- A Such means comprise a cable 112 extending through thepassageway l 14 in the hammer headportion 42 and secured at one end to an ear ll'carried by the -portion 58 of connector member 52.*- The other end of the cable is fastened-to la crank'lev'er H'pivotally attached at 12B tothe handlell andprovided with a hand grip cxtension. 122. Itwilll be clear that when the operator moves the extension 12-2of the lever I 18 toward the handle -the movable head portion 440i the -hammer will be moved to the position shownl in Figure 4, in whichposition therhead portionml is'in abut-v tin-g relation with the head portion 42 andthe finger 96 is in blockingv relation to thefeed channel. The surface 46 may then be usadas theanvil surface for the drivingvofA the tacks, andrduring this phase ofwuse'of the hammer further tack feed is prevented.

In the course of the normal swinging action ofthe hammer, yparticularly when Ithe hammer is moved upward preparatoryto a further downward or hammering stroke, there will be atendency for the tacks within slots Stand '1t to slide or move backwardly toward the storagechamber 14. In order to inhibit this action and to preserve. the continuity of the feed-row of .tacks within slotsl 34 and .'l, I have provided anabutment memberin theV formof-a shoulder' 125 in thefhandle 1B near the outlet of? slot 30,' said shoulder being effective to block backwardmcvement Vof the tacks, ywhile not affecting the-forward feed of the same. l v

In Figures 7-9 there is shown a modied form of the automatic magnetic tack hammer of the invention. This modication of the hammer differs from the modiiication shown in Figures 1-6 in .that it may be` considered to be of the linear type, rather than the T-shaped or cross-head type, and, also, in that the ytack feed control means is manually operable rather than being automatically operable by relative movement between portions of the hammer head. The modied form of the hammer comprises a head 218 provided with a hammering surface 212, a guide channel 214 having the curved terminus 216, a chamber for the reception of the magnet 218, and a boss 222 carrying a threaded plug 224 serving as a closure for the magnet chamber. suitably secured to the boss 222, as by screws 226, is a cylindrical tube 228 serving as the storage chamber for the tack supply. The tube 228 is provided with a removable closure cap. 230 for tack loading purposes. A tack feed tube 232, provided with a tack slot 234 is suitably secured, as by welding, to a connector member 236, with the latter in turn being suitablysecured to the tube 228 by welding or otherwise. v Aligned apertures in the members 228, 236, and 232 constitute the feed passageway providing for communication between the interior of the tube 228 and the interior of the tube 232. Inversion of the hammer, coupled with a slight agitation of the same will serve to feed a supply of tacks through the passageway 238 into the feed chamber of tube 232. When the hammer is oriented with the head portion 210 directed downwardly, the

tion in the'formof a dowel 244 with. vhea-d v2.1'IL` The shoulder. 246 in `slot 234 serves :to prevent the backwardk movement of tacks into.;the,feed chamber of tube 232 after theyfhave once passed into the channel 242. g In order to shield the operators hand` from the pointsof Vthe tacks protruding through the slot 234 and to Agive the handle portion ofthe hammer an exterior form comfortably tted to the operators hand, I have provided the shield or skirt member 246 in secured relation, as byv one'or more `screws 248, to the connectormember 235. The shield 246 laterally envelops the tube 232as best shown in Figure 9. y v l .This modified .form of the tack hammer of the invention is also provided with means for feed-l ing the tacks one by one to the hammering surface 212. The vfeed meansV comprise a semi-. sleeve member 25! rotatably mounted on thefeed tube 232 and provided at lits lower end with a ring portion 252 lembracing the circumference of the tube, 232, The ring portion 252 isprovided with an -angularly inclined slot 254 dening oppositely disposed and vertically oiset pawls 256 and 253. When the semi-sleeve 250 is in its normal position, as shown in Figure l0, the pawl 256 is in blocking relation to the tack feed channel 242. Av slight rotation of the semi-sleeve 250 to the right, as viewedV in Figure 10, will bring the slot v.254 into communication with the feed channel 242, thereby admitting a single tack to the slot 254. A subsequent reverse` rotation of thev semi-sleeve 252 is eiiective to bring theoutlet end of slot 254 into communication with chang-- nel ZES of head 210 to. thereby allow the tack within slot 254 to pass into the channel 215 and gravitate downwardly/until it reaches the field of attraction lQf the magnet 213 at vthe hammering surface 212. This reverse rotationlof the semi-sleeve 2,50'brings the pawl 256 into blocking relation with respect to the feed channel 242. Thus, by rotating the semi-sleeve 250 first in one direction and thenv in the other, the tackswill be fed one by one to the hammering surface 212. Manually operable rotating means are provided for the semi-sleeve 250, said means comprising a semi-ring gear26, carried by the semi-sleeve 2553, in mesh with the gear-tooth segment 262 of ring 264. A shoulder 266 of tube 228 together with the lower end of connector member 236 serve as the positioning and bearing means for ring 224. When the hammer is grasped so that the operators hand is located on the tube 228 and the protector skirt 246 below the bearing ring 2%56, and with the butt of the hand disposed toward the hammer head, it will be clear that the thumb or forenger, or both, may be readily utilized to manipulate the control ring 234 in order to feed the tacks one by one to the hammer head in the manner above described.

While specific embodiments of the tack hammer of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is to beunderstood that the hammer is subject to modification within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tack hammer comprising a handle having a. tack storage chamber, a hammer headv carried by said handle and having an end surface' to which tacks are to be fed, a tack feed channel extending from said storage chamber to said end surface comprising an intermediate channel portion at the side of said head through which the tacks are moved by gravity and an arcuate end portion terminating at said end surface adapted to direct said gravity-fed tacks toward said end surface,ftack feed control means for said hammer comprising means reciprocally movable transversely to said feed channel and operable to admit tacks one by one to the arcuate end portion of said channel, and a magnet within said head laterally shielded so asto limit its tack-restraining magnetic effect to said end surface, said magnet being operable to overcome the kinetic energy of gravitational movement of a tack issuing from the arcuate end portion of said channel and hold said tack at Said end surface.

2. A tack hammer comprising a handle having a tack storage chamber, a hammer head comprising a fixed portion secured to said handle and a movable portion carried by said xed portion for limited axially reciprocal movement with respect thereto, said movable portion of the head having an end surface to which tacks are to be fed, a tack feed channel extending from said storage chamber along the side of said head portions and having an arcuate end portion terminating'at said end surface, said feed channel being adapted under the action of gravity and the manual manipulation of said hammer in conventional manner to feed tacks from said chamber to said end surface, yieldable means urging said movable head portion outwardly with respect to said fixed head portion, tack feed control means for said hammer comprising gate means carried by said fixed head portion for reciprocal movement transversely of said channel and means carried by said movable head portion in camming engagement with said gate means and operable upon reciprocal movement of said movable head portion to impart a reciprocal movement to said gate means andfthereby pass a tack through said gate means for gravitational movement to the end surface of said movable head portion, and a magnet within said movable head portion laterally shielded so as to limit its tackrestraining effect to said end surface, said magnet being operable yto overcome the kinetic energyrof gravitational movement of a tack issuing from the arcuate end portion of said channel and hold said tack at said end surface.

3. The tack hammer set forth in claim 2 provided with means to render` said tack feed control means inoperative to feed tacks to said end surface upon the striking of said end surface against an object, said means-comprising a crank lever carried by said handle and a cable secured at one end to said lever and having its other end secured to said movable head portion, said lever and cable being operable upon the forced pivotingV of said lever to xedly position said movable head portion with respect to said xed head portion.

4. A tack hammer comprising a hammer head having an end surface to which tacks are to be fed, a hollow tubular member secured in xed relation to said head and forming a guideway for tacks, a tack guide channel-in one side of said headY having an arcuate end portion terminating at said end surface of said head, an elongated guide slot in said tubular member in alignment with said guide channel, said slot and guide channel forming thev passageway means for the gravitational movement of tacks from said tubular member to the end surface of said head, a member sleeved on said tubular member having a slot therethrough angularly directed'with respect to the guide slot of said tubular member and in overlying relation to a portion of said guide slot, means for rotating said member a sufiicient amount in each direction of rotation to rst bring the upper end of the slot of said member into coincidence `with said guide slot and then the lower end of said slot into coincidence with said guide slot to thereby feed tacks one by one to the guide channel of said head, and a magnet Within said head laterally-shielded so as to limit its tack-restraining magnetic. effect to said end surface, said magnet being operable to overcome the kinetic energy of gravitational movement of a tack issuing from the rarcuate end portion of said channel and hold saidtack at said end surface. Y n

HARRY G. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesrare of recordin the file of this patent:

, UNITED STATES PAEIVFSv NumberV 1 Name 1 l Date 653,890 Savage July 17, 1900 

